Diesel help sought

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 2

Diesel help sought

The Minister of Transport JMr McLachlan) will be asked to relax transport restrictions to help farmers meet new allocations for diesel fuel. North Canterbury Federated Farmers wants a relaxation on truck-axle loadings Ind -back-loading and a •rationalisation” of the movenent of stock to freezing ivorks.

New regulations allow farmers an allocation for the (ear from June 1 of 90 per tent of the total quantity of iiesel they used in the previous year.

“This is very serious, probably more than petrol, betause diesel is used almost 100 per cent in industry and transport, where it is very lifficult to restrict usage.” laid Mr A. L. Mulholland, the provincial senior vicepresident. ~ He said the original re-! rtrictions limiting farmers to toe same amount of diesel they had used last year had] >een “sneaked in” in January,! tnd few farmers were aware: >f this. Fuel shortages had been! tompounded by “a boatload! >f fuel going missing.” “The inference is ' that a loatload has been sold again ■ While in transit. It is a pretty] lightening state of affairs.” ! laid Mr Mulholland. Farmers had to obey the] iiel restrictions but farmers] ihould be high on the Gov-! irnment's priority list. The provincial president Mr G. E. Rennie) discounted •ugg estions of farmers hoarding diesel. “The financial position:

idoes not allow farmers to| [spend money on fuel other] [than what they initially re-] [quire.” he said. “I can assure] [everyone that farmers will do: i their best to conserve fuel.” , i The provincial executive] [also moved to congratulate

the Minister of Agriculture [(Mr Maclntyre) on his per- ; formance in the job. ! Mr Rennie said that in re(cent dealings with Mr MacI Intyre he had been impressed (with the Minister’s “sincere .'interest in farming.”